Land-roller



(No Model.)

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Nrnn STATES CHARLES J. SHAW, OF OVOSSO, MICHIGAN.

LAND-Romea SPIEOFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,194, dated September lO, i895.

Application tiled June 3, 1895. Serial No. 551,561. (No model.)y

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

' Be it known that I, CHARLES J. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Land-Rollers; Vand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to maire and use the same.

lliyinvention relates toan improvement in land-rollers.

The invention will first be described in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of a device embodying my invention, the tongue being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a tront view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the central standard. Fig. 5 is a detail view ot the pole-holder. Fig. 6 is a View of a modified form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, A are end standards approximately triangular in shape, with the apices extending downward and provided with box-bearings a, the edges of said standards A being flanged outward, as a', to form bracket-like lianges, which in each standard are connected at their outer top edges by a cross-brace o2, a ledgepiece a3 extending inward from the bottom edge of each crossbrace a2.

The standards just described are preferably oast or forged in one piece,.or the parts mentioned may be bolted or riveted together'.

B, -Fig. 4, is a central standard approximately triangular in shape, and dat, with a forward-extendin g draft-piece b, consisting in this case of an eye or perforated lug to which a whiffletree may be secured. The top of the central standard B is provided with a iiange b', as shown in said ligure, while the bottom or apex has a double bearing or box b2.

Upon the ledges a3 are secured angle-iron frame-pieces C by means of bolts, rivets, or the like passing through the horizontal webs aand through saidledges 0,3. These horizontal webs c are also secured in a similar manner to the iiange ZJ of the standard B, while vertical webs o', which are outward, are bolted,

riveted, or otherwise secured to the top ends of the bracket-flanges a', as shown.

Through the bearings or boxes d in the end standards and through the double bearing or box b2 passes a hollow shaft or axle D, which revolves in said boxes, and on the said shaft D, between each end standard A and the central standard B, is placed a roller or a series of rollers, as desired, in this oase two rollers E being shown o n each side of the central standard. These rollers are loose on the shaft, which is provided at each end with collars d, fixed to the shaft, preferably by cotters or split pins d', to prevent the said shaft from moving longitudinally. y

The inner ends of the hubs ot the rollers next to the central standard are shortened to v'allow room for the double box b2, so that the edges ot the adjacent rims of all the rollers nearly touch each other, only sufficient room existing between the rollers next to the centrai standard B to allow the latter to pass n p- Ward between them without contacting with them.

Directly over the central standard is placed a tongue-holder or hounds F, which comprises a horizontal cross-piece f, secured to and resting upon the horizontal webs o, a pair of vertical end pieces f within and secured to the vertical webs o a air of outward-extending bearing-plates f2, and two pair of vertical ears or lugsfs, the entire holder being formed, preferably, from one piece, either by casting or forginr.

On the bearing-plate f2 and between the ears or lugs f3 is placed the rear-end ot' a tongue G, (shown in part,) which is secured to the holder F by suitable bolts. To the top face of the tongue G is secured a seat Il in the usual man ner.

The shaft or axle D extends slightly beyond or is flush with the end boxes a and is provided with plugs I, in this oase threaded into the ends of the shaft D and having nut-heads t', in order to permit their removal with a wrench. The shaft is provided with one or more small holes e" opposite each bearing.

lNithin the hollow shaft D is placed a rod K, which is provided with a series of washers 7c, one for each hole fi', and approximately equal in diameter to the diameter of the inn ICG til

terior of the shaft D. The rod K projects at one end through one of the plugs I and can be drawn out a short distance, whereby the washers 1c are all brought opposite the holes t" and close to the same; but when the rod K is pushed inward the washers 7e are moved away from the holes t for a purpose hereinafter described.

It will be seen that the draft device, being in a line with the line of draft from the axle, prevents all downward pull on the tongue, which exists in those rollers where the whiftletrees are secured to the tongue or above the line of draft. Furthermore, owing to the par ticular manner of constructing the frame and standards and the connections between the two, an unusually strong, simple, and inexpensive structnre results. Moreover, the central standard,.with its double box, greatly enhances the strength of the machine, and also supports the axle against springing.

The hollow shaft, together with the removable plu gs, the small holes opposite each bear ing, the rod K, and washers 7e, permits the antomatic and continuous oiling of the bearings, as one of the plugs may be removed, the in terior of theshaft supplied with oil, and the plug; replaced, whereupon the rotation of the i shaft, duringT the operation of the roller, will cause the oil to tiow through the small holes in the bearings, the rod K being,r pushed in 4 during the operation of the roller.

In order that the oil may not escape while the machine is standing still, as it might in warm weather, the rod K may be drawn out, thereby closing,r all the holes.

Instead of using a central standard which projects downward and supports the axle, I prefer in small machines to use only three rollers, one of which is in the center and prevents the sha-ft from springing, while at the same time allowing the machine to be turned much easier. In this construction the central standard extends only a short distance below the frame-pieces and is provided with a draft device just below the frame, which takes the whi f'letree-hook and thereby brings the line of draft more nearly to the axle than if the whiffletree were secured to the tongue as in the ordinary way.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a land roller, the combination, witha plurality of standards having bearings, of a hollow shaft revolubly mounted in said bearings and provided with outlet holes opposite said bearings', a rod movable within the shaft, a series of washers on the rod and adapted to close the outlet holes means for closing the ends of said shaft, and a roller mounted on the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a land roller, the combination, with two end standards having bearings and a central standard or stay-brace having a downward and forward projecting draftpiece, of a hollow shaft revolubly mounted in said bean ings and provided with outlet holes, a rod movable within the shaft and projecting through the bearing at one end, a series of washers fixed on the rod whereby the outlet holes may be closed or opened by moving said rod, and a plurality of rollers mounted on the shaft, as described.

3. In a land roller, the combination, with a pair of standards having bearings, a frame connecting the standards and a central stay brace secured to the frame, said brace having a downward and forward projecting draft piece and a tongue holder adapted to be'supportedby the central brace, of ahollow shaft revolubly mounted in said bearings and provided with out-let holes, a rod movable within the shaft and projecting through the bearing at one end, a series of washers fixed on the rod whereby the outlet holes may be closed or opened, and a series of rollers mounted on the shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. SIIAIV.

IVitnesses:

J. C. VAN CAMP, A. D. WI-HPPLE. 

